Facteur Cheval is under consideration for a tilt at the Hong Kong Cup after finishing best of the rest behind Charyn in the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes on Saturday.
Runner-up to fellow French raider Big Rock on Champions Day last season, the five-year-old returned to Ascot off the back of another fine campaign which featured a Group One breakthrough in the Dubai Turf at Meydan and third place in the Sussex Stakes at Goodwood.
While no match for Roger Varian’s star miler, Facteur Cheval ran another fine race to pick up the silver medal in Berkshire and trainer Jerome Reynier was proud of his performance.
“He arrived back in the south of France on Monday and I’m very happy with him,” he said.
“He’s so consistent at the highest level and he deserves to win a race like that. Maybe next year he’ll back for the Lockinge, Queen Anne, Sussex or Queen Elizabeth and he’ll be able to win one of them.”
Prior to a likely return to Britain next season, Facteur Cheval could be set a couple of foreign assignments, with a trip to Hong Kong potentially preceding another Dubai mission.
Jerome Reynier (left) with Facteur Cheval at Goodwood (Andrew Matthews/PA)
Reynier added: “He’s been entered in Hong Kong, so let’s see how he feels. He could arrive early in Dubai to run at the Carnival as well, so we’ll see.
“Hong Kong is a very special place for horses mentally, but he’s getting more and more mature and maybe he will be able to cope with this long journey.
“If he does go to Hong Kong, he will be running over a mile and a quarter in the Hong Kong Cup as it’s a flat course and I think he would be better suited by 2,000 metres.”
More immediately Reynier is set to catch a flight to Australia, with his unbeaten three-year-old Lazzat having crossed the globe to contest the Golden Eagle on November 2.
He said: “He’s travelled really well and is in very good shape, so it will be a very interesting gamble to try him against the best horses over there and the Japanese filly (Ascoli Piceno), who is the favourite on paper.
“It will be an interesting race and I’m looking forward to going – I can’t miss that!”
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Jerome Reynier was immensely proud of Facteur Chevel having watched his globetrotter go close in a thrilling renewal of the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes.
Reynier’s five-year-old was finishing second in his third Group One in the UK having filled the same spot in this race last year behind Big Rock and in the 2023 Sussex Stakes at Goodwood.
In that race on the Downs, won by Paddington, QEII victor Charyn was behind Facteur Cheval, but Roger Varian’s grey is a different proposition these days.
His victory at Ascot cemented his position as the standout miler in Europe and he was winning for the fifth time this season, a third at the highest level.
The pair pulled clear of David Menuisier’s filly Tamfana and had a ding-dong battle inside the final furlong, but Charyn was not to be denied.
Facteur Cheval put it up to Charyn (Nigel French/PA)
“You can’t really be frustrated after a run like that – he’s been beaten by a champion in Charyn,” said a magnanimous Reynier.
“He’s the best miler in Europe, without doubt now. We beat him last year in the Sussex and on this interesting ground we were hoping to do it again, but obviously he has just been improving and improving all year.
“Charyn is just unbeatable but it’s like a victory to be second. Our horse never lets us down, he is a dream horse.
“We can take him all over the world and he behaves perfectly. He adapted to Dubai very well (when winning the Dubai Turf), so maybe we can start thinking about going back there.
“A furlong out I thought we were going to win as he came alongside, I thought if we got in front maybe Charyn would stop, but he’s a pure champion.
“I’m happy for his owner Nurlan Bizakov and all the connections and I just hope I can repeat this for them on November 2 in Sydney when Lazzat runs in the Golden Eagle!”
Maxime Guyon rode Facteur Cheval (PA)
Maxime Guyon was the man on board and said: “We had a really good race, he followed the winner and when we went with him, I thought I could win – but he went on again.
“My horse ran really well, he did the same last year when he also finished second. He loved the ground. He has a really good turn of foot on this ground and on good ground also, it’s amazing.”
Menuisier was also a proud man as Tamfana finished third against the boys.
He said: “She’s run a great race. She was coming off the bridle at halfway and probably at this level that is not her favourite ground, she’s probably better when it is quicker.
“But look, I’m not going to make excuses, she’s been beaten by two absolute superstars and she’s only a three-year-old.
“We can really look forward to her next year. I still don’t know what is going to be her best trip. She’s won a Group One over a mile, we know she stays a mile and two furlongs and she might get further.
“We still haven’t figured out her ideal trip but all I know is she’s a massive filly and she will win some big races next year.”
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Soft ground is expected to aid Facteur Cheval as Jerome Reynier’s star miler attempts to go one better than last year in the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes at Ascot.
The five-year-old chased home Big Rock in the Qipco British Champions Day event in 2023 and Facteur Cheval then confirmed himself as a top-level player when landing the Dubai Turf earlier this year.
The Ribchester gelding was a visitor to the UK for both the Queen Anne Stakes and Sussex Stakes earlier this season and having decided against a tilt at the Breeders’ Cup Classic, connections are full of hope.
Facteur Cheval enjoyed the dirt when tuning up for his victory in the Dubai Turf (PA)
“We’re looking forward to it and hopefully the expected rain will materialise because I think we’re better suited to it than the favourite (Charyn),” said Barry Irwin, CEO of Team Valor International, who own the horse in partnership with Gary Barber.
“We believe the rain will allow Facteur Cheval to run his best race and I have spoken to the clerk of the course to say I was tempted to come over if the track was heavy on Saturday and he said there would be every chance it could be – so I’m coming over for the race.”
He went on: “The win in Dubai was phenomenal, but his other form has shown us that going a mile on good to firm ground is not his thing, he just doesn’t have that turn of foot. What he needs is cut in the ground or a little bit further.”
Facteur Cheval just denies Namur in the Dubai Turf sponsored by DP World.
Although the Breeders’ Cup ambitions have been placed on hold, testing Facteur Cheval’s credentials on dirt remains high up on his team’s agenda for 2025, with valuable races in the Middle East entering the equation for the early part of the new year.
“Next year, what we’re looking at is to try him on dirt,” added Irwin.
“We were looking to do that at the Breeders’ Cup but it just didn’t come up right this year, so over the winter we will try him on the dirt at least once, either in Saudi Arabia, Dubai or both.”
Crack miler Charyn will retire to stud at the end of this season, owner Nurlan Bizakov has announced.
The Roger Varian-trained son of Dark Angel has been in outstanding form this year, winning the Queen Anne Stakes at Royal Ascot and following up in the Prix Jacques le Marois at Deauville.
He was last seen just missing out in the Prix du Moulin and his next stop will be the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes back at Ascot on Qipco British Champions Day, after which he could go to Del Mar or even further afield to Japan.
In a post on the Sumbe X account, Bizakov said: “Charyn’s immense talent will be on display again on October 19 at Ascot in the Group One Queen Elizabeth 2 Stakes, followed by possible tilts at either the Breeders’ Cup Mile on November 2nd or Japan’s Mile Championship on November 17th, before his final, one-way trip to France to take up stud duties at Haras de Montfort and Preaux.
“Although he has become a familiar name on the European stage and beyond these past seasons, I cannot wait to unveil Charyn in his new role, and I am already thankful for the incredible hype and growing momentum arising about him.”
Among the opposition to Charyn in the mile showpiece at Ascot will be a strong French representation, with Jerome Reynier sticking to a familiar route with Facteur Cheval.
The five-year-old finished a six-length second to Big Rock last year and has been limited to just three runs this term, winning the Dubai Turf in March before finishing sixth in the Queen Anne Stakes at the Royal meeting and third in the Sussex at Goodwood.
Reynier and Team Valor had been considering a bid for the Breeders’ Cup Classic and Facteur Cheval is also entered in the Champion Stakes, but they have now decided to remain at a mile.
“Facteur Cheval is in good shape. We have been thinking about the Breeders’ Cup, but I think it makes sense to follow the same plan as last year and go back to Ascot for the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes,” said Reynier.
“I think you can forget about his run in the Queen Anne Stakes as he lost a shoe and raced on the wrong side of the track. I thought he ran a good race at Goodwood, even though the ground was a little bit too firm for him.
“Given how he looks and the way he is training, I think we have him in better shape now than before the Sussex Stakes. His latest gallop on Saturday was very good, and I am really pleased with where we are.”
Big Rock is entered for a QEII defence but he has been out of form this season, leaving French 2000 Guineas winner Metropolitan as the other major cross-Channel raider.
After winning the ParisLongchamp Classic for trainer Mario Baratti in May, the Zarak colt subsequently finished third in the St James’s Palace Stakes and second to Charyn in the Marois.
Baratti said: “Metropolitan has improved again since the Jacques le Marois. He is getting stronger all the time and I have been very happy with his preparation for Champions Day.
“The plan is to go for the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes. We would like to try him over further at some stage, which is why he has an entry in the Champion Stakes, but I think it makes sense to stick to a mile for this race.”
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Jerome Reynier will stick to a familiar route with Facteur Cheval, who will contest the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes on Qipco British Champions Day at Ascot.
The five-year-old finished a six-length second to Big Rock in the mile contest last year and has been limited to just three runs this term, winning the Dubai Turf in March before finishing sixth in the Queen Anne Stakes at the Royal meeting and third in the Sussex at Goodwood.
Reynier and Team Valor had been considering a bid for the Breeders’ Cup Classic and Facteur Cheval is also entered in the Champion Stakes, but they have now decided to remain at a mile for the QEII on October 19.
“Facteur Cheval is in good shape. We have been thinking about the Breeders’ Cup, but I think it makes sense to follow the same plan as last year and go back to Ascot for the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes,” said Reynier.
“I think you can forget about his run in the Queen Anne Stakes as he lost a shoe and raced on the wrong side of the track. I thought he ran a good race at Goodwood, even though the ground was a little bit too firm for him.
“Given how he looks and the way he is training, I think we have him in better shape now than before the Sussex Stakes. His latest gallop on Saturday was very good, and I am really pleased with where we are.”
Big Rock is entered for a QEII defence but he has been out of form this season, leaving French 2000 Guineas winner Metropolitan as the other major cross-Channel raider.
After winning the ParisLongchamp Classic for trainer Mario Baratti in May, the Zarak colt subsequently finished third in the St James’s Palace Stakes and second to Charyn, who is also QEII bound, in the Prix Jacques le Marois.
Baratti said: “Metropolitan has improved again since the Jacques le Marois. He is getting stronger all the time and I have been very happy with his preparation for Champions Day.
“The plan is to go for the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes. We would like to try him over further at some stage, which is why he has an entry in the Champion Stakes, but I think it makes sense to stick to a mile for this race.”
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French star Facteur Cheval is under consideration for a possible clash with City Of Troy in the Breeders’ Cup Classic at Del Mar.
Winner of the Dubai Turf at Meydan earlier in the year, Jerome Reynier’s charge has also been placed in Group One company on five occasions, most recently picking up minor honours in the Sussex Stakes at Goodwood for the second summer in succession.
Last season he went on to finish second to compatriot Big Rock in the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes and a return to Ascot on Qipco British Champions Day remains an option, but connections are also eyeing a potential first run on dirt at the Breeders’ Cup in California.
Facteur Cheval enjoyed the dirt when tuning up for his victory in the Dubai Turf (PA)
Reynier said: “It’s possible we could go back to Ascot on October 19, we’ll see how the horse does between now and then, and the Breeders’ Cup Classic is also an option.
“We don’t want to make any definite plans as it depends on the ground and the opposition. If the ground is soft enough then maybe he could go to Ascot for either the QEII or the Champion Stakes as we know he can copy with heavy ground very well.
“He also trained very well at Meydan on the dirt and doesn’t mind the kickback, so the Breeders’ Cup could be a nice challenge, but we will make a decision closer to the time.”
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Facteur Cheval will be put to the test on dirt later in the season when he steps up in trip for a shot at the Breeders’ Cup Classic at Del Mar.
Jerome Reynier’s consistent operator has regularly proved himself as one of the best performers at around a mile and he successfully stretched out to nine furlongs at Meydan in the spring when striking on World Cup night in the Dubai Turf.
However, it was while out in the Middle East that the idea of testing the son of Ribchester on dirt first entered the reckoning and after defeats at both Royal Ascot and when a close-up third behind Notable Speech in the Sussex Stakes, California and a change of surface is now calling.
Facteur Cheval (red cap) was last seen running in the Sussex Stakes (Andrew Matthews/PA)
“This horse worked very well, smoothly with a very good action and very fast, when he worked out in Dubai on dirt ahead of the Dubai Turf,” explained Barry Irwin, CEO of Team Valor International, who own the horse in partnership with Gary Barber.
“Ever since we saw that we have been dying to run this horse on dirt – in fact when he did that breeze, Jerome Reynier jokingly said ‘we should be running this horse in the World Cup not the Turf’.
“We’re aiming him at the Breeders’ Cup Classic and one of two things is going to happen.
“If the ground comes up in his favour, where it is not too fast, he will run in the Prix du Moulin. If the ground is not in favour, he will not run again until the Breeders’ Cup Classic. He has shown he can come off a long rest and do well.”
Facteur Cheval just denies Namur in the Dubai Turf sponsored by DP World.
If Facteur Cheval was to thrive in the $7,000,000 end-of-year showpiece event, then it could open up further lucrative opportunities on the dirt for the five-year-old at the beginning of 2025.
Irwin – who saw his Kentucky Derby hero Animal Kingdom carry the Team Valor colours to glory in the 2013 running of the Dubai World Cup – said: “One of the reasons we want to do this is because if he does like the dirt then we have the race in Saudi Arabia and then the World Cup back in Dubai and that’s what we want see.
“If not then we can just go back to Dubai and defend the Turf on the grass.”
It has of course been a huge week for Facteur Cheval’s handler Reynier with the news he is to join forces with one of the doyens of French racing, Jean-Claude Rouget, from the beginning of next year.
Trainer Jerome Reynier and Facteur Cheval (Andrew Matthews/PA)
Irwin is full of praise for the man he has entrusted with one of his star performers and is backing the 38-year-old to rise to the challenge of the new arrangement.
“Jerome is a pretty sharp guy and very ambitious and not afraid to take chances,” added the American owner.
“I’m happy for him because he’s taken his time and he’s done things incrementally, he hasn’t grown too big or moved to Chantilly.
“He’s done a lot of smart things, he’s a Darley Flying Start graduate and he’s got a good background and I think he will be up to whatever people throw at him.”
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Jerome Reynier’s Facteur Cheval is booked in for another journey to Goodwood to try to better last year’s performance in the Qatar Sussex Stakes.
The five-year-old was the runner-up in the prestigious contest last season, beaten by Aidan O’Brien’s top-class Paddington when an 11-1 chance on soft ground.
Prior to that run, the gelding had performed with great credit in a number of Group races run on similarly soft surfaces in France, but in the Dubai Turf at Meydan in March, he proved his versatility when claiming a well-earned Group One victory on good going.
After a spring break, his next start was in the Queen Anne at Royal Ascot, but the race did not work out as Reynier had hoped and after losing a shoe, he raced on what proved to be the wrong side of the track before finishing sixth.
Reynier is happy to draw a line under that performance and hopes his charge can return to his best form on the Sussex Downs.
“He’s in good shape. He came back quite tired after Royal Ascot, where he raced without a shoe on ground that was too quick,” he said.
Facteur Cheval after his brave second in last year’s Sussex Stakes (Molly Hunter/PA)
“He was not on the right side of the track and it was a race to forget about in the end.
“Last year, he proved he was competitive at the highest level at Meydan and Goodwood as well.
“I don’t know how the track will be this year, probably much faster than the really deep surface against Paddington, but at Ascot it was not so much the ground as the lost shoes and the tactics of the race.
“I am very happy with him now, we are looking forward to coming back.”
Rosallion narrowly beats Henry Longfellow at Royal Ascot (David Davies/PA)
Facteur Cheval is one of eight confirmations for Goodwood’s day-two feature, with Richard Hannon’s Rosallion on course for a rematch with the Aidan O’Brien-trained Henry Longfellow after the pair finished first and second respectively in the St James’s Palace Stakes at Royal Ascot.
O’Brien has also left in Mountain Bear and River Tiber, while Charlie Appleby will be hoping his brilliant 2000 Guineas hero Notable Speech can bounce back after disappointing behind Rosallion and Henry Longfellow at the Royal meeting.
The William Haggas-trained Maljoom and Sonny Liston from Ralph Beckett’s yard are the other hopefuls.
Facteur Cheval will be readied for a second tilt at the Sussex Stakes following his “nightmare” outing at Royal Ascot.
The five-year-old found only Paddington too strong at Goodwood last year and following further placed efforts in Group One company in the Prix du Moulin and the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes on Champions Day, he broke his top-level duck with a surprise victory in the Dubai Turf at Meydan in March.
Facteur Cheval was considered a major contender for the curtain-raising Queen Anne Stakes, but after tracking his pacesetting compatriot Big Rock for much of the way, he was left out on his own when the race began in earnest and passed the post a well-beaten sixth.
“The tactics of following Big Rock (did not work) as at the three-furlong pole he had to make his effort on his own, which was impossible,” said trainer Jerome Reynier.
“He needs someone (another horse) to rely on and he was just on his own. He’s a fighter and when he won the Dubai Turf he came between horses and when Namur came on his outside he kept battling hard.
“He also lost a shoe, I think quite early in the race (at Ascot), so it was just a disaster and a nightmare.
“The plan is to go back to Goodwood because he ran so well there last year. Obviously the ground was very heavy and I think he is better with a bit of cut in the ground.”
On the same afternoon Reynier saddled Group Three winner Darlinghurst in the St James’s Palace Stakes and on first inspection the 40-1 shot had his limitations exposed, finishing last of eight.
However, his trainer is adamant his charge is better than he showed, adding: “He travelled pretty well but Christophe (Soumillon) felt he was a bit anxious and not breathing properly and we think he’s been playing with his tongue.
“He was making a bit of noise after the race and we scoped him and everything was fine, so next time out I think we’ll go for the Prix Daphnis at Deauville on August 4, a Group Three for three-year-olds over a mile, and he’ll probably be wearing a tongue-tie.”
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Jerome Reynier is counting on his quality over quantity approach as he searches for a first UK success with Facteur Cheval and Darlinghurst at Royal Ascot.
The Marseille-based handler is also poised to saddle Zarakem in the Prince of Wales’s Stakes, but it is the aforementioned duo who give the Frenchman most optimism of breaking his duck at the Royal meeting when they race on the opening day.
Facteur Cheval has been somewhat of a stable star for Reynier in recent years and having knocked on the door in a multitude of big events last season, finally got over the line at Group One level when landing the Dubai Turf at Meydan in March.
The form of that high-class event has been franked across the globe since, with Godolphin’s Measured Time the latest to give the race a timely boost, and connections of the Team Valor International-owned gelding head to the opening Queen Anne Stakes full of hope.
Facteur Cheval just denies Namur in the Dubai Turf sponsored by DP World.
“He came back from the Dubai Turf in really good shape and I was really happy with him,” said Reynier.
“The form from Dubai is amazing. The second Namur ran a cracker when second in the Yasuda Kinen (in Japan) and the Godolphin horse who finished fourth (Measured Time) won a Grade One in America. Even the horse who finished eighth (Calif) won the La Coupe in ParisLongchamp and it was a very strong race.
“Maxime rode an amazing race (in Meydan) and I really liked the way he was galloping out after the winning post.
“He still had plenty of energy and maybe we could see him over a mile and a quarter in the future, but right now we had the choice between the Prince of Wales’s or the Queen Anne and we thought it would be good to stick to going one mile straight. You always need that little bit more stamina than just being a miler and I think it fits him well.”
Facteur Cheval is right towards the top of the market for the Queen Anne, with only John and Thady Gosden’s star mare Inspiral ahead of him in bookmakers’ lists.
Facteur Cheval and Maxime Guyon teamed up for big-race success in Dubai (PA)
It is a position Reynier is happy to be in as he backs his horse to prove he is one of the best around.
He continued “In Dubai no one cared about Facteur Cheval, he was an outsider and people thought the trip was too long and the ground was too quick for him.
“He never lets you down and always puts in maximum effort and if he was to win the Queen Anne then he would prove he is one of the best horses in the world on turf.”
Reynier also has high hopes for Darlinghurst as he takes his place in a red-hot edition of the St James’s Palace Stakes.
A winner of four of his six starts, he is unbeaten in four appearances since turning three and having seen off Prix du Jockey Club runner-up First Look in the Prix de Guiche, heads to Berkshire as short as 7-1 with some layers.
Darlinghurst – who has an entry in the St James's Palace Stakes – pulled of the four-timer with an impressive Group 3 success at @fgchantilly earlier… pic.twitter.com/AcGNTKnX2V
“I’m really looking forward to seeing this race, it is going to be very interesting with all three of the Guineas winners,” added Reynier. “It will be interesting to see who is the number one three-year-old colt in Europe.
“Darlinghurst has beaten First Look who was runner-up in the French Derby, his form is very good and we’re very happy with the horse. He is very easy to deal with and I know he will travel well and is in good shape.
“I think his main quality is his turn of foot and if he can follow a horse with his high cruising speed and Christophe (Soumillon) can show him a gap or bring him on the outside, then he has got one furlong (burst) really, really fast. If he can use his turn of foot in the closing stages then he will be finishing really well.”
Reynier, who started training in 2013 and has enjoyed big-race success with the likes of Skalleti, has so far resisted the temptation to move north to the training centres surrounding Paris, preferring to remain in the warmer climate he enjoys training his horses in southern France.
And while some may have felt the urge to expand, he has remained committed to keeping his string at a manageable level.
“We are going to try to win one of the races next week and it is a very competitive meeting, but I think we have the horses in good condition and can only hope for the best,” said Reynier.
“A first win in Britain during Royal Ascot would be unreal, so I just hope the horses travel safe ahead of D Day.
“Ascot is something I have been watching on TV for many years, I was lucky enough to run Royal Julius in the Prince of Wales’s six years ago.
“That was a good trip, I was driving the horse box myself and taking care of the horse myself and it was a great memory. This year I will only be going on the Tuesday and Wednesday and we are staying Monday until Thursday so we will be able to enjoy it.
“When we came over for the Sussex Stakes, we flew over, the horse ran and then we were dashing to catch our flight so I wasn’t really able to enjoy it and the same with the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes, I wasn’t able to stay for the Champion Stakes as the flight was straight after the race.
“This time I’m sure we will make sure we will enjoy ourselves and I will be in the French tent in the car park having a good time.”
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Jerome Reynier’s Facteur Cheval has the Queen Anne in his sights as one of a trio of horses set to fly the flag for the Marseille-based stable at Royal Ascot.
Last term the gelding was brilliantly consistent but found victory elusive when placing in a string of Group races, coming home the runner-up in the Prix du Muget, the Sussex Stakes and the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes and placing third when narrowly beaten in the Prix d’Ispahan and the Prix du Moulin.
His reliability was rewarded at last when he returned to action in the Dubai Turf at Meydan in late March, where he enjoyed a lucrative success when striking at 20-1.
Having run twice outside of his homeland of France last season, Facteur Cheval will now travel back to Ascot to contest the Queen Anne Stakes over a mile as the Royal meeting gets under way in under three weeks.
“He is aiming for the Queen Anne on the Tuesday, he came back in very good shape from Dubai. We’re very happy with him,” Reynier said.
“Now he’s going to try to win a second time in a row after having not won for a long while.
“We don’t have any questions about good ground because he won on it in Dubai, and he’s done the straight course at Ascot for the Queen Elizabeth so everything seems to be in good shape for him.”
Joining him on journey will be Darlinghurst, a three-year-old Dark Angel colt who has not put a foot wrong in four starts this year.
Winning a pair of Cagnes-Sur-Mer contests early in the season, the bay then stepped up to Listed level to win the Prix Maurice Caillault at Chantilly in March and then returned to the same track to take the Group Three Prix de Guiche in May.
He now holds an entry for the St James’s Palace Stakes on the same day as his stablemate’s Queen Anne bid.
“That’s the plan with him, he’s in very good shape. He is unbeaten this year in four starts, he won his maiden, his conditions race, his Listed race and his Group Three,” said Reynier.
Darlinghurst – who has an entry in the St James's Palace Stakes – pulled of the four-timer with an impressive Group 3 success at @fgchantilly earlier… pic.twitter.com/AcGNTKnX2V
“Everything is in good order, the more he goes, the better he is. Last time out in the Prix de Guiche he won in very good fashion.
“He’s a son of Dark Angel and the dam (Dr Simpson) is a Group Three winner over five furlongs, so aiming for the French Derby over 300 metres more wouldn’t have been a good idea.
“He looks like a miler physically, it’s a stiff mile at Royal Ascot and it will be a great race to look forward to.
“It is going to be a pretty tough race because all the Guineas winners are aiming for this race, the English one, the Irish one, the French one, it’s going to be a very interesting race.
“We are very excited for the 18th of June to bring two good horses over for the Group Ones.”
ZARAKEM s’offre la victoire du Prix Frédéric de Lagrange (L) !⚡️ Félicitations à son entourage 💥
— Hippodrome de Vichy (@HippodromeVichy) July 17, 2023
The third horse set to make the trip over from France is Zarakem, who will aim to put defeat in the Prix Ganay behind him to return to the form he was in when he got the better of Horizon Dore to land the Prix d’Harcourt in April.
“We just have to forget about his last run in the Ganay where everything just went wrong,” Reynier said.
“He won well on his reappearance in the Prix d’Harcourt and he has some pretty solid form beating Horizon Dore, who just got beaten in the Prix d’Ispahan.”
https://www.geegeez.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/273214710-scaled.jpg12802560Geegeez Newshttps://www.geegeez.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/geegeez_banner_new_170x78.pngGeegeez News2024-05-30 11:24:222024-05-30 11:24:22Reynier: Facteur in top shape for big summer mission
Facteur Cheval is likely to head to Royal Ascot after his Dubai World Cup night heroics in Meydan.
Jerome Reynier’s five-year-old has been the most consistent of operators when campaigning predominantly over a mile, finishing no worse than third in six starts in top company last season and ending the campaign by chasing home Big Rock at Ascot on British Champions Day.
Upped in distance to nine furlongs for a red-hot renewal of the Dubai Turf, the French challenger finally got his moment in the spotlight, revelling around the turns of Meydan to prevail by a short head in the hands of Maxime Guyon.
Further international assignments could be on the horizon once a trip to Royal Ascot for the meeting-opening Queen Anne Stakes is out of the way, with connections keen to explore more opportunities to race around a bend.
“I think the conditions favoured him and he’s more of an American type of horse to tell the truth,” said Barry Irwin, CEO of Team Valor, who own the horse in partnership with Gary Barber.
“I think he wants to run on a round track and with a pace to run at.
“He can handle any kind of surface, but I think he prefers a sounder surface and most of those races in Europe he ran in when he was finishing second and third, they were too tactical – especially in France, where they go so slow – and he doesn’t have that instant burst of speed.
“I think now we have figured out what he enjoys doing, we’re going to figure out a programme around that.
“We will go to Ascot probably and run in the Queen Anne because it’s an exciting race and people would like to see it, but after that I think we will focus on international races on a round course.”
Facteur Cheval could also be seen plying his trade on dirt before the end of the year, having impressed in his trackwork on that particular surface out in the Middle East.
Although no concrete plans are made, that would bring some valuable prizes in America into the equation, including the season-ending Breeders’ Cup, which this year takes place at Del Mar in November.
Facteur Cheval at Goodwood last summer (Andrew Matthews/PA)
“Another thing is, he trained great on the dirt over there in Meydan and I think we will try him on that also,” continued Irwin.
“I wouldn’t run him in the Breeders’ Cup Mile because that is two turns and at Del Mar it is too tight a turf course and he’s too big a horse to adapt to that.
“Santa Anita would be a little better but a mile and a quarter on dirt is something we will take a good look at. We haven’t planned anything yet after Ascot, but after that every option is open.”
🗣️ "The distance was not a problem."@EcurieReynier was simply in dreamland after Facteur Cheval showed such courage in the Dubai Turf Sponsored By DP World 🇫🇷
Irwin also reserved special praise for the son of Ribchester’s handler, who he credits with formulating the successful Dubai Turf plan.
He added: “I’ve got to give all my credit to my trainer and he figured the whole thing out.
“He took a chance not prepping the horse beforehand and he knew what he had. For a young guy, he is quite the thinker and a very impressive individual.”
https://www.geegeez.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2024/04/21e6878a-e6b3-4592-bb86-8f688dc3bdeb.jpg8001600Geegeez Newshttps://www.geegeez.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2022/10/geegeez_banner_new_170x78.pngGeegeez News2024-04-04 11:15:522024-04-04 11:15:52Facteur Cheval camp keen to conquer America after Ascot
Facteur Cheval just held off the late lunge of Japanese challenger Namur to win the Dubai Turf, in which Lord North was unplaced in search of his fourth win in the race.
Trained in France by Jerome Reynier, the winner was last seen finishing second to his compatriot Big Rock in the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes at Ascot on Champions Day.
It has previously been suggested that Facteur Cheval needed soft ground to be seen at his best, as he arguably showed his top form in testing conditions when second to Paddington in the Sussex Stakes, but he showed his versatility on this occasion.
Hollie Doyle somehow managed to get Nashwa to the front from her wide draw in stall 14 but with a furlong to run, she had run her race.
Her John and Thady Gosden stablemate Lord North looked threatening at one point but age may have finally caught up with the eight-year-old as he found disappointingly little.
Measured Time burst through with a challenge on the inside and briefly hit the front but Facteur Cheval and Namur came powering down the centre of the track.
Maxime Guyon celebrates his big win (PA)
The pair crossed the line together but it was Facteur Cheval and Maxime Guyon who got the verdict on the nod.
“He’s amazing because he’s just as good when the ground is heavy or soft,” said Guyon
“But he’s never been the same as he was today. The turn of foot he showed was better than he’s ever shown.”
Reynier was overcome with emotion after the race, following the biggest success of his career.
“It’s amazing, I’m lost for words – 16 years ago I first came to Nad Al Sheba and I never imagined I would be stood here today,” he said.
“That was just amazing. I told Maxime that I’d never seen this horse go backwards in a finish, he always gives his best, he’s always running on, so the distance was not a problem.
Facteur Cheval just denies Namur in the Dubai Turf sponsored by DP World.
“Maxime rode the perfect race, he had Lord North to follow and he kept something for the end. I’m delighted for Maxime and all the team.”
Regarding future plans, the trainer added: “We will find out in the next few days how he’s come out of it.
“He’s been invited to Hong Kong in four weeks but we would need to leave him here and see how he is. I would love to run him in the Sussex Stakes and there is also of course the Marois.”
In the closing stages, Christophe Lemaire suffered a nasty fall from Catnip and was stretchered off the track and taken to hospital for observation.
Sadly, Catnip could not be saved due to the extent of his injuries.
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Jerome Reynier was delighted with Facteur Cheval after his tenacious second-placed performance in the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes on Qipco British Champions Day at Ascot.
The bay travelled over from France for the mile showpiece to round off a consistent season in which he had never been out of the top three.
In five Group-level starts prior to Ascot, the gelding had not been beaten more than a length and a half, finishing third to Anmaat in the Prix d’Ispahan, second to Paddington in the Sussex Stakes and third to Sauterne in the Prix du Moulin.
Big Rock was the runner-up on the latter occasion and on soft ground in the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes it was the same horse who flew home to secure a six-length success.
His compatriot ensured the race was a French-dominated affair, however, with Facteur Cheval giving chase to make up a huge amount of ground from last place when finishing second ahead of a group of quality horses.
Jerome Reynier (left) and Facteur Cheval ahead of the Sussex Stakes (Andrew Matthews/PA)
Reynier was thrilled with his horse, who was a 14-1 chance under Mickael Barzalona and did the stable proud on his final run as a four-year-old.
“It was great,” said the trainer. “He didn’t get the best run, as he was in a good position early on but he had to go behind Paddington and he ended up going backwards, unfortunately.
“He had to come back from behind and go around all the horses, it was almost impossible to make the second place but he was very courageous to give his all and go and beat the Aga Khan filly (Tahiyra) – it was just unbelievable.
“I thought he was going to struggle to finish but he is a swimmer, he loves that kind of ground.
“It feels like a win because Big Rock was unstoppable, we did what we could and finishing second was the maximum of his ability on the day.
Congrats to connections of Facteur Cheval for taking home 2nd in the🥈Queen Elizabeth II Stakes🥈T:@EcurieReynier, O:Team Valor International LLC and Gary Barbor. The gelding from Ribchester at Haras Du Logis, sold @InfoArqana Sales fought until the endpic.twitter.com/pXmco8mJD4
“We weren’t too far from Big Rock on quick ground, so maybe one day we will be able to compete with him.”
Facteur Cheval will be given a break over the winter and could then be on his travels again in 2024, with Dubai and Newbury both mentioned as possible targets.
“It’s an amazing four-year-old campaign that he’s had, he’s been very consistent, even though he didn’t win a race this year,” Reynier added.
“He’s been second in the QEII, second in the Sussex, third in the Ispahan, third in the Moulin, they have been amazing achievements and we can’t wait for him to have a bit of a holiday and start off next year in good shape.
“He deserves a break, we could go to Dubai with him for the Dubai Turf for his reappearance.
“We’ll maybe come back to England for the Lockinge, he likes races with a lot of pace and sometimes in France he doesn’t get the pace he likes, we’ll see – we’ll talk to connections and we’ll decide together which is the best route to take.”
Connections of Facteur Cheval are eager to see more rainfall at Ascot ahead of his tilt at the Queen Elizabeth II Stakes on Qipco British Champions Day.
Jerome Reynier’s ultra-consistent performer is yet to finish outside the first three in five outings this term, beaten less than two lengths on each occasion, with his last three appearances coming at Group One level.
The Facteur Cheval team are looking forward to another crack at Paddington having been short of room when second to Aidan O’Brien’s prolific winner in the Sussex Stakes at Goodwood.
“It’s the plan and he could run on any type of surface, but he’s better with some give in the ground and the wetter the better, like when he won the Prix Perth at Saint-Cloud,” said Barry Irwin, CEO of Team Valor, who own the horse in partnership with Gary Barber.
“We have skipped some other races he could have run in waiting for the race next weekend figuring it would be really wet again.”
Facteur Cheval after his brave second in the Sussex Stakes (Molly Hunter/PA)
If the ground is quicker than Facteur Cheval ideally likes, connections will use it as a guide to next year.
Irwin added: “I think at this point we’re looking at it as much, if not more, as a test to see how he handles that (quicker) going at this point of his life, as our goal next year is the Dubai Turf. This will be a good test to see how he handles that type of track.
“That mile up the straight at Ascot is more like a mile and eighth and that’s the distance of the Dubai Turf.
“That’s what we’re looking at and whether we are going to have a big impact on this race now – and unless we get lucky and the ground turns very soft – that is something we’re a bit concerned about obviously.”
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